A new South Wales to Paddington rail service is on track to launch in 2027. The original plan from Grand Union Trains was to launch its open access service in competition to First Great Western this year.
However, the train operating company, which secured a 10-year track access contract to operate its services from the Office of Rail and Road in 2022, said it had been unable to secure the required off-lease rolling stock and is now in negotiations with train maker Hitachi to deliver a new dedicated fleet.
The daily service would see five trains a day in both directions from Carmarthen to Paddington, with stops at Llanelli, Gowerton, Cardiff Central, Newport, Severn Tunnel and Bristol Parkway.
It would also stop at Cardiff Parkway, if the proposed mainline train station on the outskirts of the capital at St Mellons is realised. The Welsh Government is still “actively considering” the project for planning with its integrated 900,000 sq ft business park.
If consented the company behind the project Cardiff Parkway Developments - which the Welsh Government has a minority equity stake in - would need to revisit its business and financial plans in light of planning delays. The initial pre-Covid indicative price tag for a four platform mainline train station was put at £120m, but would now be far higher.
Managing director of Grand Union Trains, Ian Yeowart, said:” We’ve been unable to secure any suitable off-lease rolling stock to begin services earlier. As a result, we are close to an agreement with Hitachi on a suitable new build and hope to confirm that before the New Year. That will however mean a delay while trains are built and the target start is in December 2027.
“However, once a position is finalised on the new trains then we can be more confident of an agreed start date and begin the preparations for recruitment to dovetail with delivery.
It would have been good to have got under way earlier if possible, but the trains we were looking at are restricted to 100 & 110mph so would have been unable to deliver the timetable.”
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While yet to be confirmed Grand Union could look to acquired four new five car trains as part of a 10-year £110m leasing deal.
In September Grand Union Trains sold its five-year track access rights for Stirling to London services, which are due to launch next June, to FirstGroup.
The decision of the 海角视频 Government to bring into public control rail services at the end of existing franchise agreements, doesn’t apply to train operating companies running open access services like Grand Union Trains.
In Wales, using the operator of last resort mechanism, the Welsh Government brought into public ownership the Wales & Borders franchise during the pandemic. The route, which was operated by KeolisAmey, is now run by its transport body, Transport for Wales, through TfW Rail. Several thousand staff working for KeolisAmey on the franchise transferred over to TfW Rail.